“No, I think it’s great that you are. Honestly, I couldn’t just sit around doing nothing for a few months.”
“I’m an event planner by trade, so it made sense to jump in and help. And I’ve made some good friends here on the island already. Though some townspeople aren’t thrilled with an outsider being in charge. And Connor thinks I’m ridiculous for doing it.”
“Connor’s bark is worse than his bite. He really is a sweetheart under all the gruff exterior of his.”
“If you say so.” She still was skeptical.
“He’s not much of a joiner, so he probably can’t understand why you’d want to head up the event.” Megan took a sip of her wine.
“I’d love to see the festival get back to what it used to be. I went to it with my parents when I was a young girl. I still have such great memories of it and of the island.”
“Are they coming to the festival this year?”
“Ah… no.” Amanda’s voice caught. “They… they passed away when I was young.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry. That’s so hard. I know how hard it is. Connor and I lost our parents a long time ago too. I was in college and Connor was just finishing high school. It was rough going for a while.”
“I’m sorry for your loss too.”
“So, who did you live with after your parents died?”
“First, I lived with my grandmother. It was nice. She helped me get through it all. But then… she developed Alzheimer’s.” She looked out at the water for a moment as emotions crept up on her, then turned back to Megan. “ I tried to take care of her, but I was so young. My family finally said I had to move out, and they put her in a memory care unit. I was heartbroken. It was like losing my parents all over again. Then I was kind of passed around from family member to member. Lived with my aunt and cousins for a bit. Then another uncle. Went to college with the money I inherited, moved to New York City, and became an event planner. That’s my life in a nutshell.”
“Must have been hard losing your grandmother, too, and moving around like that.” Megan’s eyes were filled with empathy. “We at least were old enough to live on our own. I had an apartment at college, and Connor moved in with me. Heworked odd jobs and then started up with his wood carving. He had quite a bit of success with it.”
“So why did he move to Magnolia?”
“I’m not sure why he picked it. I teased him it was because it’s so hard to get here. Have to take the ferry and everything. But I try to bring Brooklyn as often as I can. She adores Connor.”
“Looks like he adores her too.”
“Brooklyn has him wrapped around her little finger. He’d do anything for her.”
Just then, Connor and Brooklyn came back from their shelling adventure. Megan stood up. “Thanks for the wine. I should go. I promised to cook my world-famous mac and cheese to go with the burgers Connor is grilling.” Her eyebrows shot up. “Oh! You should join us.”
Amanda shook her head. “Thanks, but I’ll let you all have family time.”
“You sure?”
She nodded. Megan walked down the stairs and trotted over to Connor’s. Brooklyn danced around the two of them and pulled shells out of the bucket, proudly displaying them to her mother.
Connor looked over toward her deck one time, his gaze lingering for a moment before turning back to Brooklyn and scooping her up in his arms.
One thing was certain. Connor Dempsey was a complicated man.
CHAPTER 9
The next morning Amanda headed to Coastal Coffee. She’d gotten into the habit of going there for breakfast two or three times a week. As much for the company as the delicious food. A bit of a sense of belonging washed over her as she waved to Beverly and took a table near the front where the sunlight filtered in through the windows. The aroma of freshly baked pastries made her mouth water.
Glancing at the chalkboard above the counter she saw that blueberry muffins were today’s special. Now she was torn between the pecan waffle—always one of her favorites—and the muffin. Or, she could go with the healthier yogurt, fruit, and granola.
Beverly brought her over a cup of coffee. “Morning. Looks like you’re becoming a regular.”
“I guess I am. I’ll have…” She frowned, trying to make up her mind between the tempting options. “Okay, the blueberry muffin. And a side of the yogurt.” That almost made her feel better about the calorie-laden muffin.
“Good compromise.” Beverly’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “Back in a flash.”
Tori came in and hurried over to her table. “Oh great, you’re here this morning. I’ve been wanting to catch up with you and hear all about the festival. Mind if I join you?”
